When everyone starts actively talking about cycling holidays, they mean going through a variety of routes in which you can meet sights, as well as various excursion objects. If you decide to relax as actively as possible, cycling tourism is exactly what you need.
You will certainly have a completely unique opportunity to climb into the most remote and secluded corners, drive along trails and see simply magnificent places that cannot be seen if you go on a trip by excursion bus or car.
Bicycle tourism is also attractive because you get excellent and useful physical activity During the entire exciting journey, you improve the condition of the entire immune system.
The main task is to prepare properly and select high-quality equipment for cycling tourism. What is attractive about this type of modern and so popular tourism? What type of cycling tourism do you have the opportunity to engage in and enjoy the sights around you?
Popularity
Modern bicycle tourism allows every tourist to feel complete unity with a certain area, because you will not have any boundaries. Using a bicycle, you can explore the area as if you were walking along it.
Complete freedom of travel destinations. A unique opportunity to choose your route and change it at any moment when you want. Mountain modern bicycles Absolutely any route is subject to control, so this should definitely be used.
Many people in our modern world pay attention to the environment and try to take care of it as much as possible. Every person wants to travel actively, visit the most different countries. In this case, cycling tourism is the best and optimal option.
What are the other advantages of such popular tourism:
- Every minute you breathe fresh and clean air, and the body receives a constant load.
- A tourist has a unique opportunity not only to see the sights, but also to improve immunity.
- Cycling tourism is also relevant for those who suffer from heart disease, but they are allowed exercise controlled by a doctor.
- Cycling tourism is quite economical.
You will only have to spend money once - purchasing a good and comfortable bicycle, as well as equipment. You have the opportunity to purchase additional items or update your set. Sometimes repairs are needed, but they are not global, so there will not be large expenses.
Types of bicycle tourism
Cycling tourism has different guises. This type of recreation stands out quite favorably against other types of tourism. It is precisely the benefits from it for humans and the entire environment - a real find for a vacationer.
Bicycle tourism gives everyone the opportunity to combine business with pleasure: you ride on long distance, you feel unity with your environment, which is simply impossible to achieve while traveling by road.
You have the opportunity to choose the optimal type of tourism for yourself in order to enjoy your vacation as much as possible and get the benefits that are guaranteed to come from it.
Cycling classic
Here everything will happen as in an ordinary tourist and exciting hike in nature. Your main means of transportation is a bicycle. You will have a great overnight stay in nature in a furnished tent, interesting evenings around a warm fire, and food cooked on a picnic. All these aspects must be taken into account to make your vacation enjoyable and exciting.
This cycling tour has a certain advantage - you can cover the longest distances in the time allotted for the hike. You will even have the opportunity to carry a load, but not on your back, but on a bicycle.
Cycling tourism is civilized
This is a common and popular type of active recreation. Not so long ago he came to our country from the far west. You will have an excellent opportunity to relax during an overnight stay in a comfortable hotel, hostel or campsite. Often they take food from stores or in cafes on site, but if you wish, you can cook it yourself or in the company of vacationers with you.
There are certain advantages here that cannot be ignored:
- A light weight that should be carried on a bike. This is due to the fact that overnight stays will be in a hotel. There will be no tents, no thermal underwear, or other things that are needed for minimal comfort during a tourist holiday on bicycles.
- The food will be bought in stores or cafes, so you won’t need to take any ingredients. This will also lighten your load.
- Ability to walk short or long distances in short time. It won't take a lot of your strength and energy.
Very often this version of cycling tourism is called European. It involves the use of certain delights of civilization, which is simply necessary for many tourists. This style has nothing negative or bad, as you have an excellent opportunity to gently enter the world of cycling recreation.
Cycling tourism educational
This type is the simplest, but at the same time quite common. The main purpose of such a vacation is a bicycle trip with sightseeing, interesting historical and natural places. You will need absolutely nothing from the cyclist other than his desire to enjoy the ride. Educational cycling tourism allows you to relax for several days with or without a planned overnight stay - it all depends on individual preference.
Sports cycling tourism
Sports cycling is multi-day cycling trips with full hiking equipment. This is a cycling touring all-around competition. The emphasis is on the complexity of the route with difficult roads, off-road and forest paths and the like.
This type of vacation will require you to formalize certain documents, as well as maintain detailed and thorough statistics of the entire cycling trip. This is necessary so that the campaign and, accordingly, you are assigned a certain sports category. This important indicator directly indicates how prepared you are. This category is needed for professional instructors and for participation in a wide variety of cycling trips.
Adventure cycling
Travel companies have recently been organizing trips to hard-to-reach areas - tropical forests, mountains and deserts - for thrill-seekers in some countries. Usually a bus accompanies the group for backup. You can always use his services in case of rain, bad weather or just tired.
Types of bicycles for cycling tourism
Road racing bikes
Designed for driving on smooth asphalt, where they have advantages thanks to thin tube tires.
It is better for experienced cyclists to engage in tourism on such bicycles. They are not very maneuverable, they have the lowest cross-country ability of all types of bicycles. Thanks to the tubes - thin tires - they are designed to drive on smooth asphalt.
Touring bikes
Classic touring is a more durable version of a road bike. Advantages of touring bikes:
- ease of movement on highways and dirt roads,
- good directional stability,
- high load capacity,
- wide range of gears (18-27).
Among the disadvantages it should be noted:
- low maneuverability,
- moderate cross-country ability on technically difficult routes.
Touring bikes are good for classic and sports trips on a variety of roads, but they are not suitable for aggressive and extreme driving.
Mountain Bikes
Mountain bikes were born in the early 80s of the 20th century and are still developing today. They have many names: off-road vehicles, mountain bikes, all-terrain vehicles, just bikes. They are designed specifically for driving in particularly difficult conditions. They have an aggressive appearance, have an off-road frame and 26-inch wheels. The mountain bike features a heavy-duty design, a large number gears (24-27), wide tires, and excellent cross-country ability in the absence of roads.
A mountain bike is very versatile, suitable for both city riding and sports and long-distance travel.
Hybrids
It's relative new look: a symbiosis of touring and mountain biking. Hybrids are similar to mountain bikes frame geometry, a large number of gears (24-27), steering wheel and its stem. The wheel size is usually 28 inches. Front shock absorbers allow hybrids to be even more versatile.
The hybrid combines excellent speed performance with high cross-country ability on bad roads. Hybrids, like touring cars, are more suitable for classic hikes, but are aimed at harsh driving conditions.
Road bikes
In modern road bike robust design and tires, a wide range of gears, so they are not inferior to touring in cross-country ability. The soft saddle and high seating position make it the most comfortable of all types of bicycles.
The main purpose of such bicycles is grocery shopping and leisurely walks over short distances.
The advantage of a road bike is its low cost. This is due to the entry-level equipment, simple frames and the absence of a suspension fork.
You have an easy and clear task to choose the best option that will help you enjoy your holiday and cycling. You have an excellent opportunity to try each of the types - just buy a bike, equipment and enjoy the environment. The desire to travel is what drives every tourist who sets out on a journey in nature.
Benefits of cycling tourism
Bring any type of vacation, and we will tell you how much less profitable it is than cycling tourism. The answer lies on the surface - in order to travel on a bicycle, you do not need fuel or fuel. Moreover, in cycling tourism it is very common to travel through narrow passages. Often there is a lot of beauty there too. Can you get to similar places by vehicle? No, of course not. A car has much larger dimensions than a bicycle. I would also like to note that traveling by bicycle is much faster than traveling on foot.
What is attractive about cycling tourism?
Don’t forget about the main advantage of bicycles – riding them helps improve your condition and improve your health. This means that by participating in cycling excursions, you will not only enjoy picturesque places, but also spend active leisure time. Bicycle tourism provides a lot of benefits to the participant. First of all, time. As a rule, such events do not require so much when compared with other types of tourism. But if you wish, you can significantly increase the time you participate in cycling tourism.
By the way, there are two types of cycling tourism. Now we’ll tell you about them. Let’s do this so that we can find a suitable option and understand why cycling tourism is attractive.
Types of cycling tourism
Bike tours. This is a fairly popular and sought-after type of cycling tourism. Represents travel by bicycle, without excess cargo. As a rule, all necessary luggage is stored in the vehicle that accompanies the group. Participants in such cycling tourism eat in various cafeterias and other establishments; overnight accommodation occurs in hotels
Bicycle trips. There are colossal differences this type cycling tourism. The main difference is that participants will have to carry everything they need. Secondly, the route largely consists of those places in which there is no civilization at all. Therefore, you are unlikely to be able to enjoy the benefits of civilization. This is worth considering when you choose the right type.
It should also be noted that a sport that is included in the concept of cycling tourism is sports cycling tourism. There are six categories of travel difficulty in this sport. Most easy stage-300 km. This is one of the features of cycling tourism. The point is that there are so many varieties.
By the way, cycling tourism is quite popular in the West. Moreover, in some countries the development of such a direction of cycling tourism as adventure tourism has begun. In Russia, cycling tourism is not in such demand, but abroad, travel agencies organize various tours to exotic and hard-to-reach places. Yes, on bicycles. This is the next feature of cycling tourism.
If you want to choose this type of tourism, you can find similar offers on our guide exchange. In addition, if necessary, you can choose a guide who will take you through the picturesque and interesting places. This way you can understand why cycling tourism is attractive.
Cycling is one of the most common types of active recreation. This is due to its great popularization and the interest of modern people in healthy way life. So what is the appeal of cycling tourism?
The only means of transportation is your two-wheeled friend. On it, a person will have to go through routes that include objects of an excursion nature (specific and general tourist). However, even this would seem to be quite in simple form tourism has its own characteristics, unknown to beginners.
Despite all the popularity of solo cycling, it is team cycling that is developing more. We are attracted to him various groups on social networks, broadcasts on forums, and the usual word of mouth. In terms of the complexity of such races, they can be simple or not very simple (when, for example, you have to drive 200 km a day). However, the latter option is more likely intended for experienced cyclists rather than beginners.
- Read also:
In addition to regular cycling trips, there is also sports cycling tourism, in which participants cover distances along a specific route. For overcoming difficulties and obstacles, as well as for distance and speed, they receive new ranks and titles.
But still, the most attractive type of recreation for a novice tourist who wants to have a good time and enjoy the soul and body is a regular bicycle trip. It allows you to explore the cultural and natural attractions of various areas.
Laying out such routes can be very simple and involve long stops and even overnight stays. According to this criterion, cycling trips are divided into several types:
- A one-day trip does not include overnight stays. They usually leave early in the morning and return in the evening of the same day.
- Weekend trip (WTD) - includes one overnight stay. Departure takes place early on Saturday morning and return on Sunday evening.
- Multi-day cycling trip - can include several overnight stays and any number of days. Usually these are long routes, sometimes intercity or even interstate.
How to prepare for traveling by bike
Since bike touring is extremely accessible, many beginners believe it is easy and does not require special training. However, it is important to understand that you can get caught in small things - this will later lead to negative emotions and a complete discrepancy between expectations and reality. Therefore, let's discuss the main points of preparation for a cycling trip:
2. Plan your route in advance (calculate duration, stop times, evaluate the quality of local roads).
3. Take a first aid kit with you.
- This is important:
4. Learn the rules traffic.
The last two points are especially important - your life and health depend on them.
How to prepare your bike for a hike
Before you set out on a bicycle trip (especially alone), carefully check the condition of your steel friend. Please note the following:
- Are the brakes working properly?
- Is the steering wheel securely fastened?
- Are the carriages, chains, bushings lubricated?
- whether the chambers are releasing air;
- Are there any damages to the tires?
- Is the saddle adjusted?
- are the knitting needles intact?
- check the presence of lights and reflectors;
- equip your bike with mirrors (rear and front).
Select the necessary equipment:
- special cycling clothing (it will protect against hypothermia or, conversely, excessive sweating);
- tourist backpack;
- helmet;
- gloves;
- knee pads, elbow pads.
Cycling tourism in different countries of the world
Today you can rent a bicycle in almost any city. However, will it be possible to ride it with pleasure? The key to a successful trip (especially for beginners) are specially designed paths and parking lots. Let's look at where you can find them.
Cycling tourism in Russia is only gaining momentum. Among the Russian cities, one can highlight St. Petersburg, Ryazan and Yekaterinburg - this is where greatest number bike paths. In Moscow, Perm, Ufa and many other cities they also exist, but very few.
- Don't miss it:
Cycling tourism in Ukraine is also developing, but bicycle paths began to appear relatively recently. Now these are the following cities: Kyiv, Vinnitsa, Lvov, Odessa and Mariupol. However, so far they are represented only on some streets.
As for cycling tourism in Europe, its countries are more developed in this regard, since there are cities literally designed for bicycles. The cycling infrastructure of Germany, France, Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands and Spain is encouraging. But among more distant countries we can highlight China and the USA.
According to the form of implementation, cycling routes are divided into organized (planned and amateur (club-sectional)) and unorganized - amateur (“wild”).
Planned cycling tourism involves the organization and conduct of trips by tourist organizations and enterprises of various forms of ownership (mainly on tourist vouchers). They are carried out along developed, studied, described, and sometimes marked routes under the guidance of instructors who have sufficient experience and are familiar with the area. The entire route, as a rule, passes through tourist centers or other tourist accommodation facilities, where trekking participants are provided with overnight accommodation, food, cultural and medical services, and in some areas, motor transport.
Most novice tourists make their first cycling trips along these routes, which run through picturesque corners of nature, include ancient monuments, interesting architectural structures, literary memorial or historical places. For the most part, such routes are not difficult and do not require special tourist training.
Amateur tourist cycling routes organize and conduct tourism councils, sports associations and sports sections enterprises, institutions and educational institutions, health and sports camps, etc.
Amateur tourists themselves select the composition of the group, choose the area of travel, develop a route, and provide for themselves necessary equipment, food, and overnight accommodation and excursions are organized along the route. The routes of amateur cycling trips are approved by route and qualification commissions, and their passage is controlled by the relevant institutions (control and rescue services and teams).
The peculiarity of unorganized cycling routes is that tourists themselves choose the area of travel, often without a clearly developed plan and program for the trip. For the most part, such groups are made up of friends, families, and acquaintances. Their main task is active recreation during summer holidays or holidays.
Another feature of modern cycling tourism is that today the world is experiencing a transition from mass tourism to individual, family, small groups.
The developed cycling routes have different categories of difficulty (from I to V), which differ in route length, terrain, and form.
When developing a tourist cycling route, the following requirements should be adhered to:
- - tourist routes should not pass through areas that are potentially dangerous for tourists, i.e. where rock shifts, landslides, avalanches are possible, through swamps, river rapids, etc. and create a danger for other route participants. For example, bicycle routes should not be located where there are walking or equestrian routes, on sidewalks or highways;
- - new tourist routes should be laid where there are already paved roads and bodies of water;
- - routes along roads with heavy traffic should be avoided. Tourist routes should pass through territories with favorable environmental, sanitary and epidemiological conditions;
- - it is necessary to provide for the possibility of tourists spending the night in designated places and/or in tourist accommodation facilities;
- - the possibility of preventive, repair, and construction work by the owners of roads or accommodation and catering facilities should be taken into account.
Every traveler of this type of tourism must have a good command of the technique of cycling, including with a load, and not only on highways, but also off-road. Therefore, participants must have appropriate physical training, selection of tourist equipment in accordance with the period of the year.
The most important condition for ensuring the safety of a bicycle trip is strict adherence to traffic rules. To minimize the likelihood of an accident, it is necessary to reduce your speed on downhill slopes, especially on poorly paved roads, as well as when driving on a wet highway or dirt road with puddles, as water can cover deep potholes and holes. You cannot drive on the roads at dusk or at night.
The safety of cycling also largely depends on the technical condition of the bicycle and the ability to control it, especially on bad roads and when overcoming obstacles, since natural obstacles in cycling tourism include: mountain roads and passes, difficult forest paths, off-road areas, fords, ravines . Therefore, technical inspection of bicycles must be carried out daily and any detected faults must be corrected immediately.
Cycling, like auto racing, skiing, boating and other active sports, has its own dangerous factors that require the use of appropriate safety equipment. Most common hazards cycling- head injuries from a fall.
An important safety item is a bicycle helmet, which protects the cyclist from serious injury. softening the blow.
Padded shorts and gloves not only make cycling more comfortable, but also safer. Bike shorts are often lined with natural or synthetic suede, gel pads or other materials to reduce the effect of road vibration on the sit bones of the pelvis. Padded fingerless gloves protect the cyclist's hands from damage from road vibrations and in the event of a fall.
Conclusions to the first section
Cycling tourism is an environmentally friendly form of recreation . Not picky about age human criteria, since the loads in it are easily dosed. With this type of transport you can travel on almost any road, along a path or just on flat ground, with it you can climb over a deep ravine, overcome sand, rocky mountain paths and screes, and ford rivers . All weight is attached to the bicycle and drove to the tourist you don't have to carry it yourself all equipment. Bicycle tourism can be considered one of not only active species recreation, but also one of the most interesting and sports types tourist holiday. A bicycle makes it possible to travel long distances faster, with less effort, than on foot. This is the most common and most widespread type of transport. And at the same time it does not require any additional energy source. This is the most environmentally friendly and silent form of transport.
Researchers have proven that using a bicycle provides a wonderful opportunity to combine movement with loads on all muscle groups. This type of tourism will help many people keep fit and toned.
